By STEVE HARTSOE
The Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Two hospitals are asking visitors, especially children, to stay away until they control an outbreak of a highly contagious stomach virus that has sickened patients and staff members.
“We’re just asking the community to help out,” said Dr. Ward Robinson, an infectious disease specialist at Moses Cone Hospital. “I don’t think this is the black plague coming into Greensboro.”
Doctors confirmed an outbreak at the hospital and believe the virus also has hit Wesley Long Hospital. The number of people affected wasn’t immediately available, hospital officials said.
Three suspected norovirus cases first appeared on Feb. 1 and were not confirmed until Wednesday, Doug Allred, a spokesman for Moses Cone Health System, said Friday.
The hospitals will admit new patients who will be sent to areas considered clear of the virus.
“All services are running as normal,” Allred said. “Mostly this is aimed at visitors to take these precautions.”
Allred said it wasn’t clear where the infection originated.
“It’s coming in from elsewhere,” he said. “It’s in our community.”
A number of cruises, airplane flights, hotels and other gathering places have been stricken over the past several years with outbreaks of noroviruses.
The viruses can cause diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting for two to four days, but are generally not fatal, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.